By – Dhruvi Shah
A shooting at Brown University, situated in Providence, Rhode Island, on Saturday, resulted in the death of 2 students and left 9 others wounded. More than a thousand law enforcement personnel responded to an active shooter situation, with multiple police departments on the scene. Numerous law enforcement agencies were activated to secure the University campus and areas around it and reported that the suspected student committed this act alone, so it is not considered an ongoing threat.
On Saturday, during afternoon exams for both engineering and computer science students, 2 students were pronounced dead at the hospital after being fatally shot. A total of 8 other individuals suffered multiple severe gunshot wounds, while 1 person suffered a gunshot fragment wound.
Emergency personnel received a 911 call alerting them to the incident around 4:05 p.m. Soon, the university sent out its first notification to all faculty and students warning them of an active shooter in the engineering building located on campus and advising them to hide and remain in place.
Although the police responded immediately to the active shooter call and searched the scene, the suspect was already gone. While the police were conducting a comprehensive search for the suspect, law enforcement officials, including local and state officials, the FBI and ATF, were on scene. By Sunday morning, Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez publicly confirmed the arrest of a person of interest believed to be in their 30s. They have not disclosed the specifics of the arrest or whether the suspect has any direct connection to the University. No search is underway for additional suspects.
The authorities also released video footage of a suspect identified as a male wearing dark clothing, possibly a mask and carrying a firearm. Evidence is being examined to determine the motive for why the suspect would target that particular building, as investigators also collected evidence of shell casings left at the scene.
Mayor Brett Smiley confirmed that the victims were students but due to the investigation, they are not able to disclose their identities. He assured the public they have no reason to believe that there is a continued risk to public safety. After the confirmation of the suspect’s arrest, the lockdown on that campus and surrounding neighbourhoods was lifted.
The University and the Brown community offer condolences to everyone impacted by this tragedy. President Trump – when he first heard the news of the shooting – was horrified and offered his prayers for those who had died and for those who had been injured, calling it a terrible tragedy.
Established in 1764, Brown University is one of the oldest of the eight Ivy League institutions and currently has approximately 11,000 enrolled students. The growing instances of gun violence on university campuses put an increasing level of concern about the safety of students on campuses of all colleges and universities.
The authorities continue their investigation to determine what caused the shooting, as well as fully determine all of the circumstances surrounding the incident.